“Tell me where it be, an’ I’ll let ye an’ yer friends live.”
“Don’t tell him, Cap’n,” Moses said from behind him.
“Aye.Don’t give this scabrous mouse anythin’,” Soot hissed.“We’d rather die than see him win.”
Cadan crossed arms over his chest.“I guess you have your answer, then.”He longed to ask the man about Lady Fox and Omphile but dared not give him the ammunition.
An evil grin lifted one side of the traitor’s lips, and he unclipped a key from his belt.“Pistols at the ready, men.Shoot any o’ them who moves.”Then unlocking the door, he gestured for Cadan to come out.
Cadan glanced at the six pistols pointed their way.Even if he and his men charged, they’d not get far before they’d all be shot dead.“I believe I’ll stay here with my men.”
“Lawks!But ye be a stubborn hen.”Smity shook his head.“I’ll shoot yer men one by one if’n ye don’t step out right now.”
Heaving a sigh, Cadan complied.
Shoving him aside, Smity slammed the door and locked it once again.
“Now, up t’ the deck wit’ ye!”Drawing a knife, he poked Cadan in the back.
Though everything in him longed to turn and beat Smity until every last breath left his body, he knew it would do no good and would only hurt the chances that his friends might survive.
Hence, he followed Durwin up the ladder to the gundeck and up another ladder to the main deck where a blast of wind swept away the stink of the hold clinging to every inch of him.
The rising sun spread a blanket of gold and orange lace over the horizon, transforming the sea into a shifting rainbow.He drew in a deep breath of salty air, happy to be free of the hold…until he spotted Gabrielle, Matthew in her arms, standing by the starboard railing, terror screaming from her beautiful face.
Her turquoise eyes brimmed with a silent appeal to help her, to rescue her from this madman.
Ah, how he longed to do so, would gladly risk his life to set her free!His glance took in the sails above billowing in the morning breeze, sailors speeding up ratlines to their tasks.Up on the quarterdeck, Kane had taken Pell’s place as quartermaster.
Casting him spurious glances, his traitorous crew lulled about on the main deck, whether to protect Smity from him or to gloat at his misfortune, he couldn’t tell, for their eyes followed his every move.
He returned their gazes with a look of steel, of authority, for he was still their captain.
Smity shoved him toward the railing where Gabrielle stood, and it took all his strength not to take her in his arms and tell her all would be well.Her eyes flitted between his and a tiny smile graced her lips.Perhaps she was as glad to see him alive as he was her.
Smity marched to the lady, and before Cadan could react, he snatched little Matthew from her arms and held the babe over the railing.“Give me the final clue or I’ll toss the brat.”
Uttering a scream that would wake the Kraken, Gabrielle pounded Smity’s back, but two pirates caught her arms and held them behind her.Still, she struggled, her tear-filled eyes shifting from Matthew to Cadan.
Fury raged through every vein.Was there no limit to the man’s wicked heart?
“Please, Cadan, please!”Gabrielle cried.
The hatred from Smity’s one good eye seared into Cadan.“What’ll it be?”
Cadan had no choice.He could pretend he cared not a whit for the boy or his mother, but the fiend might very well drop the babe anyway.
“Very well.I’ll take you to the treasure.Just give the boy back to his mother.”
???
Gabrielle had not let go of her son, not once since Smity had returned him to her after his threat to throw him overboard.Returned rather reluctantly, from the expression on his vile face.In truth, after the terrifying incident, she’d had nightmares the past two nights filled with visions of little Matthew wailing over a raging sea, reaching out to her with his chubby arms, face red and tears spilling from his cheeks.Though she tried with all her might, she couldn’t move, couldn’t rescue him, bound by what felt like iron shackles.Then he plunged into the billowing waves, his scream instantly silenced by the waters as he disappeared into the deep.
Both nights, she’d leapt up in bed, heart thundering, sweat streaming, only to find her babe safely tucked in the coverlet beside her.
Poor Omphile touched her from her other side, uttering sleepy, but reassuring words, until she lay back down and nestled Matthew close.
The soothing sounds of water against the hull slowed and shouts and footsteps above jarred Gabrielle awake from yet another restless night.Gathering Matthew, she eased off the coverlet and swept her legs over the side of the cot.Rays of morning light drifted through the tiny window, along with other sounds—the sweet warble of birds amid more shouts from on deck.Finally, the crank and rattle of the anchor chain rang loud and clear, followed by a mighty splash as the anchor landed in the water.
